Disappointed with CDL school

I have a student with me right now who I swear is better at backing then I am. Literally has not had trouble with one hole and some have been tight.. Some get it early I guess. But I do agree that for the most part backing remains weak for a while.

 

We all thought we were horrible in truck driving school and we were. Pretty much everyone gets nervous about it and think there's no way they will pass the test. Just relax, keep practicing and you'll be fine.

 

As a recent grad and soon to be trucker (Wednesday am orientation) I had troubke with the backing too. Just don't letthe frustration conquer you. I thought thays where I would fail. I got an A+ A- A- A+ on the 4 backing courses my school had. I'd have to agree with everyone its going to take time. As far as advice, Go slow, take your time steering small makes ot easier to correct mistakes, If you mess up STOP don't hot rod and turn on the fly until you are an expert.... Goood Luck! Don't Give Up On It!!!

 

Thanks Bum, I was hoping my blabbering wasn't too confusing.

I can vouch for that Elendil! Yes, everyone has those days and if you don't, you're lying! I have days out there where I look I have a trainer in the sleeper while I'm driving! You also have those days when absolutely nobody is watching or around and you could have been the truck rodeo champion that day!

Truck N Tech, that's actually a good idea! In fact a lot of schools actually use them for demonstrations and for students to mess with. I have a really nice, completely die cast model, roughly 2 1/2 feet long of a coffin cab Pete with a reefer trailer. It was actually a model which I had spent many labor intensive hours building! Has many moveable parts, doors open on cab and trailer, hood opens, wheels turn etc... reefer does not run though! Really cool! Little embarrassing when I get caught playing with it though! Nonetheless it really does help improve your schools and give you an idea of how to approach things.

 

I am glad when something I say helps. The best thing possible would be a remote control toy truck, with steering that is variable, not just full right/full left/straight. Of course that would cost a lot of money, so the next step down would be 3 position steering. Even if the steer wheels don't even turn, you cans simply push the nose left or right as you move the truck backwards.

The whole key is to learn the CONCEPT of how the truck moves, then use that knowledge to APPLY THE CONCEPT when you are training in the real truck. That way you can spend more time learning about the way the truck acts, then just the time actually driving the truck.

One note of caution:
It's not so bad getting caught playing with the truck, as long as you were not heard saying "Vroom...Vroom" as you do it.

 

When I started back in 01, my driver trainer used a remote control tank truck to show me how a truck reacts when you input certain measures into the steering wheel. This sounds crazy but it actually works, if you can visualize what is going to happen before you actually turn the wheel backing becomes fun and less frustrating.


Edit - just saw TNT's post about this, just my take

 

Not knowing how to drive yet its crazy how most say even after so many years backing can be difficult. I work at a warehouse an watch the Yard hostlers back all day long, I guess its because they do it all day but these guys always hit their mark on one shot an quick.